Liquid dispensing device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1961 INVENTOR.

March 5, 1963 F. STANGER 3,

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 1'5 l L 15 12 d 7 ,3 jg l1 J39- a 13+ 3 i1 illllllllljllll, J 7 is 1 8 l 1 I 5 6 H 1 16 5 12a, .gfi a w I a an: I 1/11 1| H h VI 5 R x I J a 1 7 ma I v 13-? INVENTOR.

3,d?9,?83 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 3,079,783 LIQUZD DESEE ISiNG BEVZCE Frank Stanger, Louisville, Ky, assignor to Corn Products Company, New York, NFL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 28, 1% Ser. No. 141,440 7 Claims. (l. 68-497) This invention relates to liquid dispensing devices. More particularly, it finds utility in dispensing a liquid automatically during the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine. The liquid may be a rinse aid, bleach or the like.

Automatic washing machines operating upon a predetermined cycle and involving a basket and an agitator disposed on a vertical axis of rotation and oscillation are well known. They operate during the washing cycle by causing the agitator in the basket to rock or oscillate back and forth, that is, swing back and forth angularly on a vertical axis which extends through the post of the agitator and the shaft of the basket. After the washing operation, which includes agitation by rocking of the agitator, is completed, the liquid is drained from the basket, and the basket and agitator spun about the vertical axis to expel liquid by centrifugal force from the clothes being washed. Thereafter, rinsing liquid is admitted, and the agitator is again rocked back and forth in order to produce rinsing of the clothes in the basket. There may be a further extraction operation.

It is at the stage of initiating the second agitation, i.e., at the beginning of rinsing where introduction or dispensing of a rinse aid, bleach or the like is desirable for its effect during the rinsing operation.

The device of my invention may be charged with liquid rinse aid or other liquid before the initiation of the washing operation. The subsequent automatic steps of agitation, draining, spinning, refilling with rinse water and second agitation will be carried out automatically with the rinse aid or like liquid retained in the dispenser and discharged only at the initiation of the agitation for the rinsing operation.

The device of my invention is preferably constructed as an attachment for existing washing machines, although obviously, it may be a built-in feature. As specifically illustrated and described herein, the preferred embodiment comprises a unitary hollow body removably clamped to the agitator post in a horizontal position at all times above the level of the water in the washer. This hollow body comprises two main chambers, an inner chamber nearest the axis of rotation, and an outer chamber farther away from the axis of rotation; and at a point near the inner wall of the outer chamber, or if desired, between the two chambers, there is a cup which communicates with the outside of the dispenser. The bottom of this cup communicates with the bottom of the outer chamber. The upper part of the inner chamber communicates with the upper part of the outer chamber. A charge of liquid is introduced into the first chamber through a filler opening, and it is held or trapped in the bottom of the inner or first chamber. During rocking of the agitator throughout the initial washing action, the liquid trapped in the bottom of the first chamber remains there. After draining of the Washing liquid, spinning of the agitator and basket is performed for extracting liquid from the clothes. This spinning operation subjects the liquid in the gravity trap in the first chamber to centrifugal action which causes it to be driven against the outermost upwardly extending wall of the said first or inner chamber where the liquid will be trapped or held by centrifugal force. However, since the top of the first chamber communicates with the upper part of the second chamber, centrifugal force drives the liquid through this open connection into the second chamber. The second chamber has a similar centrifugal trap for holding the liquid against its outermost vertical wall during said spinning operation. When the spinning ceases, the liquid drops by gravity from the second centrifugal trap into a gravity trap in the bottom of the second or outermost chamber. Here some of the liquid runs out through the openings in the bottom of the second chamber into the cup to fill the cup, which cup lies radially far enough inwardly from the outer wall that it does not communicate directly with the second centrifugal trap to receive liquid directly therefrom during spinning. The cup will receive the liquid only when the body of liquid runs down into the bottom of the second chamber where it is trapped by gravity and in the bottom part of said second chamber and by the walls of the cup. The cup is relatively shallow and preferably provided with inclined walls extending laterally, so that the reversals of angular motion tend to throw liquid by its inertia of motion out of the cup at each reversal, the ejected liquid falling into the rinsing liquid. The rinse aid liquid continues to drain from the gravity trap in the bottom of the second chamber into the cup as the cup throws the liquid out of it.

By this construction, the device of my invention is able, without any moving parts, to receive the rinse aid liquid, or other treating liquid, and to retain it throughout the initial washing agitation and extraction spinning, and to discharge the liquid by the rocking motion of agitation accompanying rinsing.

The novel features of the present invention may be embodied in a dispenser for dispensing a liquid introduced in advance of the spinning operation, but after the initial agitation operation if so desired. However, the preferred form of the invention embodies the above features of permitting the treating liquid, for use during rinse, to be introduced into the dispenser at the time that the machine is charged and before initial operation begins.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with invention, I shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention showing the device mounted upon a shaft conventionally representing the agitator post of an automatic washing machine;

FiGURE 2 is a horizontal section, taken on the line '22 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1, taken from the right hand side thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical section. taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 7 to 11 are diagrams illustrating the stages of operation of the device;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modified embodiment in which the cup is formed internally fit? of the second chamber;

FIGURE 13 is a transverse, vertical cross section of the *dispenser shown in FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 14 is a further modification of the means for discharging the charge of liquid in the second chamber by rocking motion of the agitator.

The dispenser herein shown comprises a hollow unitary body 1 formed at its radially inner end with a saddle 2 to '-fit the agitator post or mounting shaft 3. It is held in posi- TilOIl by an elastic band or strap 4 which may be a rubberlike material or a metallic spring or other suitable attachug means. This hollow body 1 has two main chambers, namely, the radially inner chamber 5, and the radially outer chamber 6. The inner chamber 5 has a filler cap 11 which may be airtight if desired, or may have an atmosphe ric vent opening. The cap maybe unscrewed, and. a charge of rinse aid liquid introduced into the said cham-- berS, where it will be trapped in the bottom of the: chamber. This chamber 5 communicates at its upper: end'tlirough openings 7 in'the dividing wall 8 between the: chambersfiand. 6; The'purpose' ofthese openings is to permit liquid to pass from the inner chamber 5 to the; outer chamber 6 when the .device issubjected during the:

spinning operationto the motionof continued rotation.

passes through. the openings 7 and is. still subjected tocentrifugal force. The wall 9 thus forms the bottom of a. second centrifugaltrap, andherethe liquid is held during: the latter part of the spin operation. A space is formedi between-the wall 8 and; the inner wall 10 of the outer chamber 6 for the location of a cup 12. The bottom off the cup IZCOI'Ill'IlllHlCHlIfiS through opening 13 with the in-- side of, theouter chamber ti. The laterally disposed walls: 14, 14 of the cup 12 are inclined-upwardly and outwardly to a point above the level of liquid of a chargetrappedi by gravity in the bottom of; the chamber 6. These inclined walls. 14, 14 extend between the wall 8 of the chamber 5 and the wall 10 ofv the chamber 6, as is best;

shown in FIGURESBand 4.

The. operation of'the device is as follows: Assuming, that the dispenser is attached to the agitator post 3,, that: the clothes are charged into the basket and the machine is:

provided with wash water and detergent and readied for an automatic washing, extracting, rinsing and extracting: cycle, a charge of the rinseaid liquid, is initially introduced& into the chamber 5 through the filler cap 11. The dis penser is mounted above the water level in the washer, and. except for the charge of rinse aid in the chamber 5, is: empty. As -soon as the motion'of the agitator shaft 3 begins during the washing operation, the liquid which is: trapped in the bottom of the chamber 5, as indicated in. the diagram of FIGURE 7, will be swished back and forth by the reversals of motion of the agitator shaft, but nothing happens, since the openings 7, which provide the only e'xit'for' the-liquid, are placed-well'above the liquidlevel in the gravity trap, as indicated in FIGURE 7. When the; agitator stops, and the washing liquid has been drainedi from the basket, the spinning operationis initiated. The beginning of "this operation is shown in the diagram of FIGURE 8, where the liquid is thrown'outwardly'and trapped against the wall 8 by centrifugal force. However, since the openings 7 in walls permit the liquid to pass rapidly 'therethrough from the centrifugal trap shown in FIGURE 8, the liquid will be trapped in chamber 6 against the vertieally extending wall 9,as indicated in the diagram of FIGURE 9. So; long as the spinningcontinues, the liquid will be held in the position shown in FIGURE 9:, butas soon as the spinning ceases, and. gravity gains control of the liquid, the liquid will drop'down into the gravity itrapgagainstthe bottom wall of chamber 6, as shown in FIGURE 10. -Some of theliquid will immediately run through the opening 13 into the cup 12;which cup is open at the top. Theliquidwill remain in the gravity trap in 'the'bottom of the second chamber=6 and cup .12 until the agitator again beginsto oscillate during-the rinsing operation. The liquid will then by oscillation. ofthe agitator and'the attached dispenser be thrown or splashed'out over the edges of the sidewalls 14, 14- illustrated in FIGURE 5, 'asin'dicateddn the diagram of FIGURE 11. Liquid thrown" outlof the :cup- 12 makes room' for other liquid to run in from the gravity trap in the bottom of the chamber 6 until the same is empty. l l

Thereby the liquid rinse aid is scattered a little at a time rather than dumped all at once into the liquid charge in the basket.

The liquid does not escape from the dispenser by gravity. It can be dispensed only by the oscillation or -to-and-fro motion which imparts motion to the liquid. The inertia of the liquid upon a reversal of motion of the device causes the liquid to be thrown out upwardly and sidewise over the tops of said inclined walls 14, whereupon it drops by gravity into the rinsing liquid. The inclination of the side walls 14, 14 of the cup facilitates the operation, but is not essential.

' The cup 12 is conveniently located between the chambers 5 and 6 but this specific arrangement is not essential. It is essential that the cup'comrnunicate at its lowerend with the bottom of the gravity trap in chamber 6 and be open at its top to the outside. More than one cup may be employed if desired. 'Itis desirable that the opening 13 between the cup and the chamber 6 be far enough radially inward toward the center of the agitator post that the liquid trapped in the centrifugal trip; as shown in the diagram of FIGURE 9, cannot escape at that time. The liquid must descend from the vertical centrifugally trapped position of FIGURE 9 to the horizontal gravity trapped position of FIGURE 10, inorder that it may pass out through the opening 13 into the cup 12 where it is discharged by the reciprocating motion of the device.

While .in the preferred embodiment .of the invention the cup isemployed as an external liquid holder on the outside of chamber 6, it is not essential that the same be external of the second chamber. 7

Also, it .is to be noted that while the two mainchamr bers of the dispenser are shown as disposedon the same level and radially in line, theymay be disposed otherwise, it being necessary, however, that the second centrifugal .trap,that is the one formed in thesecond chainher, be disposed radially beyond the discharge opening or openings at the upper end of the first chamber .for conducting liquid outof the first centrifugal trap.

The second gravity-trapjrriay, if desired, be disposed at a level different from that of the firsttgravity:trap,'. but because of the limited verticalheig'ht generally'available, the two main chambers will pre'ferablybe on substantially the same level. As shown inFIGURES l2 and Y13, the'cupmaybe formed internally of'the chamber 6,.so long as itopens outto atmosphere andhas'freedom to discharge liquid from itself :by inertiaettect upon reversals of motion." In this 6356,1116 cup is formed by an inclined wzill'i'S on each side of the cup, these inclined wallsleading'to'openings 16, 16 permitting discharge to the outside of the device. A'transv'erse wall '17 having an outlet opening. 13a from the bottom or" the chamber 6to the cup l2a defines one end .wall of the said cup 12a. The wall 8. forms the cooperating end wall-of the cup. r

'The' bottom wall of the chamber 6may be inclined downwardly towards the 'cup 12 to'assist in draining the liquid in that direction.

In operation, the device performs in the same manner" as described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 11, inclusive. As shown in FIGURE 14, the transverse wall 17 of FIGURES 12 and 13 defining one end wall of the cup has been omitted, since the discharge of. liquid through the opening 16, 16 may be obtained without it. Thus, in FIGURES 12, 13 and 14, the charge of rinse aid may be introduced through the filler opening 11 and trapped by gravity in'the bottom-of the'chamber 5. The

charge of liquid will remain in chamber 5 during initial spears:

rinsing, reversals of motion will cause the inertia of the liquid to throw the liquid out through the openings 16, 16, as above described.

The body of the dispenser of this invention may be made of moulded plastic parts suitably joined together.

I do not intend to be limited to the details shown and described, except as they are made essential by the appended claims, but intend that all modification of the in vention defined by said claims be included.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser for washing machines having a shaft which is adapted to be rocked back and forth, then spun and again rocked for accomplishing washing, extracting and rinsing, respectively, comprising a hollow body adapted to be mounted on said shaft, said body having a first chamber, a second chamber and a cup, the top of which cup is in open communication with atmosphere, the first chamber having a filter opening for the introduction of a charge of liquid to be discharged from the dispenser during rinsing, said first chamber having a gravity trap for receiving and holding the liquid, and having a centrifugal trap communicating with the first trap for receiving the charge of liquid during spinning of the shaft, said first chamber having an opening from said centrifugal trap into said second chamber, said second chamber having a centrifugal trap for receiving liquid from the first centrifugal trap during said spinning operation, and having also a gravity trap opening at its bottom into the bottom of said cup at a point radially inwardly from said second centrifugal trap, said liquid draining by gravity from the second centrifugal trap into the second gravity trap and its communicating cup, said cup having an opening at the top to permit the liquid therein to be spilled out of the same upon rocking of said shaft, such as occurs during rinsing.

2. An attachment for a washing machine of known type having an agitator shaft adapted to be agitated by reciprocatory angular motion during washing, spun during liquid extraction and again agitated during rinsing, comprising a hollow body adapted to be attached to said shaft, said body comprising two adjacent chambers disposed radially at different distances from the shaft and an open topped scattering cup disposed adjacent the radially inner portion of the outer chamber and communieating with the bottom thereof for scattering the liquid drained thereinto, by reciprocatory angular motion of the shaft during the rinsing operation.

3. In a device of the class described, a unitary hollow body having means for attachment thereof to a washing machine agitator shaft adapted to be rocked back and forth by the reversals of rotary motion for a washing operation, to be spun during a liquid extraction operation and rocked again during a rinsing operation, said body having an inner chamber adjacent said shaft and an outer chamber radially farther away from said shaft, the first chamber having a filler opening for introducing a charge of treating liquid, and having a discharge opening leading from its upper end into the outer chamber, said outer chamber having means for trapping liquid discharged into it, said means including an open topped cup having its lower end in open communication with the bottom of said outer chamber, said cup being adapted to spill out liquid therefrom when moved back and forth by the rocking action of the shaft during rinsing.

4. A liquid dispenser having a chamber with walls ineluding a vertically extending wall forming part of a liquid trap for trapping liquid driven against said latter wall by a horizontally acting centrifugal force, said chamber having a second liquid trap communicating with the first trap and including a horizontally extending wall for trapping liquid under the control of gravity, an open topped cup joined to a wall of said chamber and having its lower end in communication with said second liquid trap, whereby when said liquid is under the control of gravity and the dispenser is swung to and fro the liquid will be spilled out of the cup to drain the said second liquid trap of liquid.

5. A liquid dispenser of the class described for attachment to an angularly movable member comprising a hollow body having a radially inner chamber, a radially outer chamber, and a cup between said chambers open to atmosphere, the inner chamber having a discharge connection for discharging liquid from the inner chamber to the outer chamber by centrifugal force, the outer chamber having an open communication adjacent the lower end thereof with the lower end of the cup, said dispenser being adapted to be spun in one direction to discharge the liquid from the inner chamber to the outer chamber and being adapted to be rocked back and forth angularly to spill liquid out of the cup.

6. As an attachment to a washing machine, and adapted to 'be mounted on a vertical center post of the agitator thereof, and adapted to be rotated alternately in opposite directions about the vertical axis of said post, a rinse aid dispenser comprising a body attached to said post and movable therewith, said body having a first chamber adjacent the axis of rotation, said first chamber having a closable filler opening for receiving a charge of rinse aid, 21 second chamber disposed radially farther from the post than the first chamber, a discharge opening leading from the radially outermost part of the first chamber to the upper end of the second chamber, said second chamber having means to trap liquid energized by centrifugal force upon the spinning motion of said post, an outlet from the bottom part of said second chamber, a liquid trap open at the top to atmosphere and communicating at its bottom with said latter outlet, said trap being disposed adjacent the bottom wall of the second chamber near he first chamber.

7. A liquid dispenser for washing machines for discharging liquid at the beginning of a rinse operation comprising a hollow body adapted to be attached to an agitator shaft which operates with reciprocatory angular motion during washing, with spinning motion during liquid extraction, and again with reciprooatory angular motion during rinsing, said hollow body having a radially inner chamber and a second chamber provided with a portion disposed radially beyond the first chamber for receiving and trapping by centrifugal force the liquid dis charged from the first chamber, said second chamber having means forming a gravity trap for liquid in the bottom thereof, and means comprising a cup with a laterally inclined wall leading to atmosphere for throwing out liquid upon a reversal of motion of the dispenser, the lower end of said cup communicating with the gravity trap in said second chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF GGR'ECTIN Patent No, 3,079,783 March 5 1963 Frank Stanger It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat vent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 4, line 21 after "cup. insert l2 column 5, line 18, for "filter" read filler Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

4. A LIQUID DISPENSER HAVING A CHAMBER WITH WALLS INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING WALL FORMING PART OF A LIQUID TRAP FOR TRAPPING LIQUID DRIVEN AGAINST SAID LATTER WALL BY A HORIZONTALLY ACTING CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A SECOND LIQUID TRAP COMMUNICATING WITH THE FIRST TRAP AND INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING WALL FOR TRAPPING LIQUID UNDER THE CONTROL OF GRAVITY, AN OPEN TOPPED CUP JOINED TO A WALL OF SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING ITS LOWER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SECOND LIQUID TRAP, WHEREBY WHEN SAID LIQUID IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF GRAVITY AND THE DISPENSER IS SWUNG TO AND FRO THE LIQUID WILL BE SPILLED OUT OF THE CUP TO DRAIN THE SAID SECOND LIQUID TRAP OF LIQUID. 